determinism
UK: dɪˈtɜːmɪnɪzəm | US: dɪˈtɜːrmɪnɪzəm
n. the philosophical doctrine that all events, including human actions, are determined by preceding causes and natural laws, leaving no room for free will.
n. the belief in a fixed, unalterable sequence of cause and effect in the universe.
The word "determinism" emerged in the 19th century, rooted in the Latin determinare, reflecting the idea of "fixing boundaries" or "settling outcomes." The suffix -ism transforms it into a philosophical concept, emphasizing a rigid framework where events are preordained by prior causes. The logic mirrors mechanical causality—like a chain reaction where each link is bound by the one before it.
Determinism challenges the notion of free will by asserting that every choice is predestined.
Scientific determinism suggests the universe operates like a clockwork mechanism.
Critics argue that determinism ignores the complexity of human agency.
The debate between determinism and libertarianism remains unresolved in philosophy.
His belief in determinism led him to view life as a series of inevitable events.